Wichita eagle., 1887-04-17
ARCTIC ANIMALS.
METHODS OF HUNTING EMPLOYED
BY THE MUTES OF ALASKA.

Habits of the Seal-Summer Sports-The
Clumsiness of tho Walrus.The Polar
Bear in His Icy Habitation-White
Whales.
Nature seems to have provided certain
animals peculiarly adapted to the hyper
borean region, and eninently fitted to afford
sustenance to the race who have to withstand
the cxigencics and severe climatic changes
of an Arctic zone. The principal animals
Inhabiting the waters Of northwestern Alaska
are the various members Of the seal family.
During the winter the seals, rising on the sur
face, strike against the thin young ice and
make q hole. Through these holes they
crawl upon the smooth surface and lie sleep
ing at the brink. In the early spring the
first glimpse Of sun induces them to forsake
their watery homes, and to bask in the warm
rays seems to afford great pleasure to these
amphib!ous creatures. When lying in these
positions the hunter crawls upon all tours in
as stealthy manner as possible.
When, after gale, the ice is broken up
into small leads net made of stout seal
hide is stretched across the chssn, and the
seals rising TO blow become entangled in the
meshes Within the last decade breech load
ing firearms have been used by the Mutes
III hunting, but previous to their lntroduc-
ton spears made with copper or iron heads
were used the franc for carrying the spear
being carved from walrus ivory. To the
end OF the spear O long coil of seal Lire Is at
tached, 10 which at intervals bladders Of the
seal arc fastened. In these ways the hardy
natives hunt the animal which affords them
not only food, but also oil for their lamps
and hides for their clothing. When the icy
wind sweeps over the frozen expanse of sea,
carrying with it small pellicles Of snow that,
striking the face, cut the skin like a charge
of shot; when fog and snow mist envelop
the landscape, q lutte hunter has to possess
grit and ne-'vo to face conditions that no
white man has ever yet done.
SUMNER SPORTS.
In the summer, when the ocean in again
free from the grasp Of the iceberg, seals dis
port themselves at the mouth Of every
stream and rivulet in order to catch fish Or
seafeas Then the kyack is called into re-
QUESTION. In this frail construction Of skin
and wood the hunter, launched upon the
waves, paddles quietly and gently upon the
seal until within range. Naturally very
inquisitive animal, a initiation Of the Groom
ing noise peculiar to the phOcae is sufficient |
to lnc.e seal swim on the top Of the water
with its head pTotIuding, thereby insuring a |
good object 10 aim as. Whistling Is also re- |
sorted to in attracting the seal TO the surface.
Tho variety Of seal known Is the ''ssnooth |
black hair'' is highly priced by the natives
throughout the territory Of Alaska north Of |
the Aleutian islands. Its large hide forms
the covering for boats and canoes, and also |
serves cs boot soIes entirely inpervious to |
water. saddle backs arc rarely seen to the |
north Of Point Hope These ere very hand
some and conspicuous animals es they lie |
basking in the sun upon toe ice. TEeir |
color is n deep chocolate brown, with broad
band of white, chapel like saddle, which
extends from the back around the belly,
and from this peculiar marking they derive
their name.
Forty years ago immense herds of the
bulky wairus might be seen diporting in
the waters Of the Behring and Arctic seas
Owing to the prices which their ivory tusks
were valued ct hunting OF these pinnipeds be-
came source of profit to the whaiers, AS
a consequence of indiscriminate slaughter
their numbers have bsen sensibly reduced,
and except around Bristol by mud fats ami
upon WalrUS island of the pribylof group
but few walrus arc now seen il the Alaskan
seas.
There is perhaps no animal in nature that
appears SO clumsy and SO i'll adapted to loco
motion as this enormous brute. Upon land
they are utterly helpless. When striving 10
eject { landing upon 81 ice foe or rocks
they usa their fore Clippers to hold on by and
wait for the assistance of aach wave TO hoist
them up 10 tha desired sot. In hunting the
valrus the rife 10 used Is the natives but it
would he safe to say thst within ;he past few
years not mora than i hundred have been
killed between st. IsWrence Island and Point
Barrow, owing to their shy nature. While
walrus ivory has sc deprecated in value that
it does not pay 10 bring it TO this port, de-
lnand has sprung Mp for the hides which
have been found to make the finest and most
durable leather for betting purposes. The
use OF the tusI,s that form tho sppendages to
the walrus' heed IS to enable the animal to
dig for CLAIM end other shall fish and also
tho bulb roCis ct sea weeds that ers to be
found at th7 mouths of tho nurlerou. email
streams end creeks thai flow into ths Arctic.
WHALE AND BLAIR.
Schools of white vhsle--SeluFa- or gram
pus-are tho first OK the cetscean family
that appear along tho Alaskan shores when
the ice begins TO break up. Their cleaning
white color is sensibly visible 90 they grace
fully ciavc the dark green waters OF the sea-